Arizona Inspector of Apiaries

Authority – Repealed:

A.R.S. Title 3, Chapter 6, “Bees and Apiaries” (A.R.S. §§ 3-801 to 3-807) repealed by Laws 1994, Chapter 337.

Function:

The State Entomologist appointed an apiary inspector to inspect apiaries for contagious bee diseases, parasites and pests.  A certificate of inspection was required in order to ship or move honeybees into the state.   Shipment of used or secondhand beekeeping equipment was prohibited, except as prescribed by rules adopted by the Agriculture and Horticulture Commission.

History:

Originally established in 1913 and amended by Laws 1921, Chapter 84.

Beekeeping was deregulated in Arizona in 1994 at the request of the beekeepers.  Many other states also deregulated beekeeping.  One section of Arizona law remains which says if a beekeeper does not register with a farmer or rancher and provide notice of where bees are located, the beekeeper does not have recourse for death of bees caused by crop spraying.  (See A.R.S. § 3-801)